Teen Arrested in Virginia School Stabbing That Left Student Hospitalized
A 16-year-old student at West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia, was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries on Tuesday after being stabbed during a fight inside the school. Fairfax County Police say a 15-year-old fellow student is in custody and will be charged with malicious wounding.
At a press conference held on Wednesday, officials confirmed that the affected student’s condition had stabilized. The stabbing occurred during a physical altercation involving three students. “A school resource officer was with the affected student within seconds,” said Police Maj. Elizabeth Melendez. “Additional officers arrived within minutes.”
The knife used in the attack was recovered, and authorities say no other students are involved. Police Chief Kevin Davis noted the two teens “are known to each other” and called the response by school staff “relentless” and potentially life-saving.
Despite the severity of the incident, classes remained in session after the student was removed from campus. Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid said students were kept on campus to ensure access to counseling and supervision, though some parents expressed frustration with the lockdown and inability to retrieve their children.
Grief counselors were made available, and the school operated on a modified lunch schedule as the investigation continued. A video of the altercation has circulated on social media, and while police have obtained the footage, Chief Davis cautioned that “the video doesn’t tell the entire story.”
Reid commended staff for their swift response: “They responded quickly and admirably and may have saved a life today.”
